Many Happy Returns

Birthday parties are probably the last thing on parents’ minds when they can’t afford to feed their children or keep a roof over their heads. But Dan McGinn, president of the Arlington, Va., public-relations firm Ryan-McGinn, thinks birthday celebrations should be a part of everyone’s childhood, no matter what their families’ financial means.

A year and a half ago Mr. McGinn started Cause for Celebration, an organization that throws birthday parties for disadvantaged children in the Washington area. Most parties are held at homeless shelters and community centers, such as Washington’s Community Family Life Services.

Relying on civic leaders and shelter officials to tell him when birthdays are coming up, Mr. McGinn has thrown parties for more than 150 children, complete with cake, ice cream, and gifts. His goal is to encourage other cities to start similar programs — or to find a national sponsor.

“This isn’t educating a child or giving somebody a computer,” says Mr. McGinn. “But a sense of self-worth and self-respect are the most important ingredients for a child beyond their basic health and welfare, and I think any little gesture that confirms a child’s worth is important to do.”